Cost of Living Comparison Between Harare and Kariba Cost of Living Comparison Between Harare and Kariba

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.11 ZWL 271

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.12 ZWL 1,315

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 ZWL 188

Cappuccino

$2.92 ZWL 78.1

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ZWL 18.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ZWL 11.59

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ZWL 40.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ZWL 52.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 ZWL 43.48

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ZWL 27.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 ZWL 51.7

Eggs

$2.09 ZWL 56.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.86 ZWL 291

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 ZWL 173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.21 ZWL 166

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 ZWL 80.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ZWL 45.09

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 ZWL 59.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 ZWL 45.73

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 ZWL 39.76

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ZWL 55.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ZWL 27.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ZWL 25.47

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.11 ZWL 29.74

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 ZWL 239

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ZWL 30.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ZWL 47.25

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ZWL 27.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.56 ZWL 1,139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 ZWL 135

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 ZWL 53.1

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 ZWL 137

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 ZWL 43.06

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.0K ZWL 535.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K ZWL 632.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.9 ZWL 1,576

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.40 ZWL 466

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$94.1 ZWL 2,519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 ZWL 1,426

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.15 ZWL 379

Cinema Ticket

$9.94 ZWL 266

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$279 ZWL 7,477

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,278 ZWL 194.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.51 ZWL 522

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.18 ZWL 567

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.22 ZWL 916

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.55 ZWL 1,085

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 ZWL 10.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 ZWL 7,502

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 ZWL 25.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$695 ZWL 18.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$919 ZWL 24.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$387 ZWL 10.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$393 ZWL 10.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.31

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Harare: June 6, 2026

Last update for Kariba: June 7, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Harare vs Kariba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Kariba is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Harare, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Harare and Kariba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Kariba wins on affordability, Harare on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.